Postbox Design Research

At first, I just did basic research on the history of Worksop:

• How it looked
• Events that happened
• Traditions
• Buildings
• Celebrities
• Landmarks
• etc.

I found some old photographs and illustrations of Worksop, some photographs in places of Worksop that I recognize today.Though, as much as I found these photos interesting, I did't know how I would use them into a postbox design, and if I did, I don't think people would recognize it as something linked to Worksop.

An illustration of a manor that was built by the Worksop
area.

An old photograph I found under the Worksop name, with an
old camera image quality, crowds of people as what seems to
be police or militants riding on horses down the street.

The Savoy cinema in the town of worksop, quite a popular
location for a lot of people from and not from Worksop.

The old sewage pumping building
 stands on its own in quite a open
 field area, having been unused and
abandoned for quite some time, though
sticks out in the area.

The new remodeled Worksop bus station shows how more
modern, slick and interesting designs are moving into
Worksop, also sticking out from the other buildings around it.

Moving on from the idea of old illustrations and photographs of Worksop, I decided to try and make a design linked to modern Worksop with it's buildings, transport and structures within the town.
I came across alot of good examples I could use and work with to put into a design, including the cinema, the old sewage pumping building, bus station, the canal going through Worksop, castle hill, trains and train station, and sculptures.

Castle Hill, some history of Worksop,
 a hill that used to have a small castle structure
on top of it, though the castle isn't there today, the hill
is still accessible as a park area.

The canal running through Worksop
which can be spotted in multiple
areas in Worksop with wildlife.

Once I had gotten the objects, places, things etc. I was going to use in the designs, I the had to decide what kind of style it would have. This would include:

• The colours involved
• The shapes
• Text font and size
• Added designs such as doodles
• Abstract or an illustration 
• etc.

I thought how I wanted the design to stand out from afar and close up, to catch peoples attention, to make it something they would enjoy looking at and share an interest with the people within Worksop if it was to be put of a postbox.

Then I settled on psychedelic designs that were quite common in the 70's and at festivals and some music videos and albums, since they're so bright, colourful, eye-catching and interesting to look at.

A design that has multiple use of colours, though not too bright
it's still eye-catching and able to make out the shapes and
objects within the design.

I found this design interesting with the colour palet
 that has been used though quite dark and not bright colours, it still
 'fits' the overall design, and the unique mix of design with the man
and his hair and smoke which looks like the traditional
 Asian design for clouds and smoke.

A very detailed colourful design, though not psychedelic
it's still quite an eye-catching design, a very well done one,
with a lot going on in it.

A very basic yet cool looking and effective design,
the shapes involved, the font of the text and
colour used, altogether,making an image of a broken
pill which makes another image, a heart.

A design that has a mix of two designs
with detail, normal colours, shapes, shading and lines for
 one part, being the woman smoking from a pipe, and then
 the smoke coming from the pipe that's filled with multiple
 colours, shapes, lines and shades.

A very distinguishable design of being
psychedelic with its bright colours and patters,
along with the use of drug signs and symbols,
 which are linked to pshedelic art often.

I've seen this design quite a while ago, and it instantly caught my eye and
had me analyzing the overall design with all the stuff going on within
the design and its background. Along with its interesting theme and
design, it also uses a good range of colours in its colour palet.

A quick practice pen sketch of my style of drawing trying to
mix with a psychedelic style, and next to it on the right
a quick attempt at a style of not taking my pen off the paper.

A list I did with my team, writing down everything about Worksop,
this included the types of buildings, shops, business, owners,
the types of people, the history, cultures, traditions, fashion,
piercings, hairstyles, alternative shops and people, music, bars,
locals, food etc.

Having done research into Worksop and the style I was to make the design in, being psychedelic, I began to start practicing my own kind of psychedelic styles and designs.
Listing down the main things to include, I did some quick pen skecthes as practice which would help be move forward and create better ideas. First doing detailed line work, more my style, then moving out of my usual drawing style and more onto the psychedelic style, then quickly trying a technique where I don't take my pen off the paper. I did do multiple tries with the not taking pen off the paper technique, but I felt like I wouldn't be able to effectivly put this into a design.

My practice sketches of  not lifting my pen off the paper with
different pen colours, giving a slight psychedelic affect.